Thanks for this article. It was a relief to see that other people have had problems with this collaborating requirement for getting a grant.
I once applied for a grant that required a partnership. I consulted the partner by email, got an enthusiastic response, and wrote a Letter of Inquiry to the grantor, who was also enthused—gave a go-ahead. My plan was very firmly developed, and the head of the organization I’d asked to collaborate was excited about the prospect—but only had time to discuss the idea for one coffee appointment, where she got a new idea that was an offspring of mine, but not what I’d had in mind. If we could have actually collaborated for a few more meetings, we probably could have found a compromise that probably would have suited us both. Instead, without her help, I spent weeks working on a plan I thought would be agreeable to both of us and sent her my draft proposal. The next day I got an email from her saying she hadn’t been able to sleep all night—because of ME! She hadn’t had time to give this much thought, felt uncomfortable with her lack of participation, and refused to put her organization’s name on the proposal.
I’m almost sure that the grant-making group would have sponsored the project it I’d applied on my own. Requiring a partner made this impossible.
I am glad that other people have had similar experiences with forced collaborations. I thank you for bringing notice to the faults that can come out of what’s meant to be a really good idea.
COMMENTS
BY Marjorie Leet Ford
ON March 27, 2011 12:59 AM
Dear Francie Ostrower:
Thanks for this article. It was a relief to see that other people have had problems with this collaborating requirement for getting a grant.
I once applied for a grant that required a partnership. I consulted the partner by email, got an enthusiastic response, and wrote a Letter of Inquiry to the grantor, who was also enthused—gave a go-ahead. My plan was very firmly developed, and the head of the organization I’d asked to collaborate was excited about the prospect—but only had time to discuss the idea for one coffee appointment, where she got a new idea that was an offspring of mine, but not what I’d had in mind. If we could have actually collaborated for a few more meetings, we probably could have found a compromise that probably would have suited us both. Instead, without her help, I spent weeks working on a plan I thought would be agreeable to both of us and sent her my draft proposal. The next day I got an email from her saying she hadn’t been able to sleep all night—because of ME! She hadn’t had time to give this much thought, felt uncomfortable with her lack of participation, and refused to put her organization’s name on the proposal.
I’m almost sure that the grant-making group would have sponsored the project it I’d applied on my own. Requiring a partner made this impossible.
I am glad that other people have had similar experiences with forced collaborations. I thank you for bringing notice to the faults that can come out of what’s meant to be a really good idea.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Leet Ford